Handicapping Pac 12 Football
I am in complete agreement with those who say the PAC 12 does not get enough respect nationally. Most polls have two teams – Oregon and Stanford – in their top 5 and I see no reason why USC could not finish the season in the top 10 as well, especially now that scheduling means they don’t have to all beat up on each other.
Stanford Cardinal
Win Total Over/Under: 9.5
BCS Champion Odds: +1500
Conference Winning Odds: +425
PAC 12 Conference Overview
I am not saying they will but they could. After those three you have schools like Washington and UCLA who look like they could be very good and nobody ever wants to play the Beavers from Oregon State. If things break well in the nonconference there could easily be a fifth of the Top 25 taken up by PAC 12 schools all season long.
It is a great league!
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Why Stanford will have the most wins in the PAC 12 Conference
Talent:
QB Andrew Luck got all the headlines but the reason this team has been superb of late is the strength of the offensive line and defense. The offensive line returns 4 starters from last year while the conference’s best defense returns 8. QB Kevin Hogan is showing lots of promise as a dual threat so if they can just get good production out of their skill players this team will in great shape.
They may not make a lot of highlight reels but almost any program in the nation would rather have to find a receiver than worry about shoddy line play.
Schedule:
The big key on the schedule is that Oregon is coming to visit Stanford this season. The Cardinal were able to stifle the Ducks last year winning in Eugene and they should be able to do it again in Palo Alto, maybe even easier this season. Even though they have to play 9 conference games the nonconference schedule is still pretty good.
They travel to Army which can be a handful and are visited by San Jose State and Notre Dame, who both won in double digits last year. The Irish were one of just two teams to beat Stanford last season so you can bet they will want to exact some revenge and I expect they will.
Coaching:
HC David Shaw has kept the program going since taking over for Jim Harbaugh, in fact they have barely skipped a beat. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
This year they are replacing offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton who left for the NFL too (Indianapolis Colts to be reunited with Luck) but they are keeping things within the family, advancing Mike Bloomgren, who has an impressive resume for someone who is just 36 – Alabama, Florida State, New York Jets. The continuity should mean more of the same stuff on offense. There is room for improvement which will probably track Hogan’s progress.
As described earlier returning defensive coordinator Derek Mason has a lot to work with. He will continue to get them to dominate as they may have the best defense in the nation.
Prediction: 11-1
Its too bad that Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh have taken their rivalry to the NFL because I think Stanford and USC are headed for a collision course again this season.
Ironically I think the Trojans are going to be the one team to trip up the Cardinal during the regular season and it could mean the difference in who hosts the PAC 12 Championship Game. Granting the top spot in wins to Stanford is based on them beating the Ducks yet again.
If that game swings the opposite way than you can take a lot of what is written and attach it to the Ducks (who I think will lose to Washington as well this season).
I think this is the year a PAC 12 teams returns to the BCS Championship Game and Stanford could be it.
